About 1764 a Lutheran church was organized in the town
of Livingston by the Rev. John F. Ries, the pastor of the Churchtown
society. The official board elected that year was composed of Elders
Johannes Michael Muchler and Johannes Erchenbrecht; Deacons, Nicholas
Schirtz and Philip Bortel. In 1765 and 1767, Frederick Proper,
Bartholomew Simon, Michael Wolf, and Johannes Shirtz were chosen as elders,
and Augustus Schmit, Hannes Schutt, Jacob Proper, and Balthusar Simon
deacons.

A plain frame meeting-house was built on the
"post-road," near the old Stickles place, which was used until after 1820.
It was generally called the "Piet Bush Church." A cemetery at this
place has become so much neglected that it is hardly observable from the
highway.

In 1821 a new house of worship was erected on a few
acres of ground two miles east from the Blue Store, which was consecrated,
Nov. 25 of that year, as the "St. John's Church." A board of trustees
was formed, composed of David Prossius, Adam Weaver, John D. Feller, Mathias
Hoot, Henry W. Snyder, and George Rowe. This house was used until
1861, when the present edifice was erected. It stands nearly opposite
the site of the second church, is a large and attractive frame structure,
and will seat three hundred persons. Connected with the church is a
good parsonage and a large cemetery. The estimated value of the entire
property is $12,000.

The services of the church were first in the German
language, but were changed to the English about fifty years ago. The
clergy connected with the chruch as pastors and supplies, so far as we have
been able to learn from the imperfect records, were: 1764-91, Rev.
John F. Ries; 1791-1800, Rev. Johann F. Ernst; 1800-15, Rev. Frederick H.
Quitman; 1816-50, Rev. Augustus Wackerhagen; 1851-61, Rev. H. Wheeler;
1861-63, Rev. William H. Emerick; 1863-64, Rev. W. J. Cutler; 1865-67, Rev.
J. Selmser; 1868-69, Rev. William H. Emerick; 1870-72, Rev. J. D. West;
1872-74, Rev. J. Selmser; 1875-77, Rev. James Leffler; 1877, Rev. J. A.
Rosenberg.

The membership of the church at present is one hundred
and fifty, who support a Sabbath-school, having an attendance of
seventy-five scholars. J. Hutchins is the superintendent.